Error performance of cooperative systems in generalized-K channels

In this paper, error performance of a cooperative communication system with one relay is analyzed over composite fading and shadowing channels modeled by generalized-K distribution. At the relay, variable-gain amplify and forward and at the destination, maximal ratio combining and selection combining methods are used. The symbol error rate expressions are derived analytically by using the Padé approximation of the moment generating function of the signal-to-noise ratio at the receiver. The theoretical results are verified by Monte-Carlo simulations.